What if peace could begin with a conversation?
In many Colombian communities, decades of conflict and growing urban violence have left deep scars on young people and their surroundings. Isolation, trauma, and social tension make it hard for communities to rebuild trust and resilience. Recognising this need, Colombian Scouts have stepped forward to lead change through dialogue and reconciliation.
The Es-Parce-Paz project trains young Scouts as mediators and peacebuilders, equipping them with skills in emotional well-being, active listening, nonviolent communication, and community reconciliation. Through Peace Circles, Scouts create safe spaces where people of different ages and backgrounds can share experiences, resolve conflicts, and strengthen bonds within their communities.
The project has strengthened unity and trust in my community," shares Natalia Prieto, a 26-year-old Scout Leader and Peacebuilder, “promoting more peaceful and collaborative coexistence. (...) People who were previously afraid to speak out were able to share their experiences in Peace Circles.”
To date, the project has reached 552 participants, including Scouts and community members from areas affected by violence and exclusion. In addition to Peace Circles, Scouts lead in-person training sessions, workshops, and community activities that combine humanitarian action, psychosocial support, and peace education — building confidence, empathy, and leadership among participants.
This project helped me overcome fear and mistrust by creating safe spaces to discuss and express our concerns“, says Natalia, “and by creating historical memory by allowing our voices to be heard in a safe space. The project has strengthened unity and trust in my community, promoting more peaceful and collaborative coexistence. I am confident that this project will be a solid foundation for maintaining peace, reconciliation, and open dialogue in our community”
Es-Parce-Paz continues to be replicated in cities across Colombia, including Bogotá, Antioquia, and Caldas.The methodology was also showcased at the regional JamCam Scout event at the end of 2025, creating opportunities for even wider engagement and exchange among young leaders. These efforts multiply the impact of Es-Parce-Paz, creating a growing network of Scouts and community members who can carry forward the principles of peace and reconciliation.
Through transformative youth leadership, Es-Parce-Paz is helping Colombian communities heal divisions, build resilience, and cultivate a culture of lasting peace. Scouts are not only mediators, they are also agents of change, extending dialogue, trust, and reconciliation into every community they reach.
A more peaceful and inclusive world starts with us. You can empower Scouts like Natalia and Scout initiatives such as Es-Parce-Paz to foster peace and advance dialogue where it’s needed most.
Your support helps Scout projects like Es-Parce-Paz around the world — initiatives that widen access to Scouting, nurture transformative youth leadership, and build peace and inclusion in communities affected by violence and exclusion.
When we come together to acknowledge, learn, and heal, peace ceases to be a distant ideal and becomes a shared reality.